He grapples with his reception to these foreign emotions budding within his chest. Avina’s active power may be invisibility, but whatever she wields against him is more potent than any physical damage he candeal upon an enemy. The gnawing emotion pulsating at the back of his mind is that he almost lost her.
Again.
There is no going back. I will never allow Avina to leave my side. Gods help the poor fucker who may try and take her from me.
If it means she remains mine, I will burn down the heavens and gift her a crown of ashes.
29
AVINA
November 8th, Year 100, 9th Era
Fjell Mountain, Salt Province
“We must maneuver our way over the rock slide.” Sigvid motions at the mound of rocks and mud littering the path. Circling their feet is a small path of slick, frosted grass.
His quick action saved both their lives.
Avina flushes with guilt, highly suspecting her meltdown had at least something to do with their near-death experience.
He scratches the back of his head. “Jump on my back.”
“What?” She sputters.
No man in Treland can match Sigvid for strength, but the thought of him lugging me up the rest of the mountain is humiliating.
“You heard me.” He heaves a small boulder onto the debris path. “Jump on my back, and I will carry you.”
Hauling her would slow them even further. She rolls her shoulders and stomps over the fallen boulders.
“I can handle myself. Ahhh!” One of the jagged rocks catches the tipof her boot, and her body continues without her footing straight into a mud puddle.
“Why must you always fight me?” He laughs with his hands on his waist.
“You ordered me to wear a dress to climb a mountain.” She grinds her teeth and swats at the muck.
Before rejoining him, she manages to bind her mess of curls atop her head with a ribbon discovered in a pocket.
“You tripped over at least a hundred pebbles up here. Are you sure you can walk on your own?”
His sarcastic reply earns him a scowl while she bunches her dress to her waist to scale the boulder.
“And your ass is adorable.”
She flushes, still ignoring him. Since he pillaged her from the Arena, he tossed her around like a rag doll. She is ready to complete any task independently.
“I did not take you to be this prideful.” His voice draws closer.
“No, I said- ah!” Before she has much time to protest, he clutches her backside and lifts her onto his shoulder like a sack of flour.
“Hold tight, my little Queen.”
“You are a presumptuous ass!” She beats her fists against his back. “Let me down. I can walk fine on my own!”
When he doesn’t relent or respond, she relaxes her limbs.
I might as well make myself comfortable.
